Apparatus for making tire tubes



July 23, 1929. P, wusANDERsON 1,721,975 l APPARATUS l`FOR MAKING TIRETUBES Filed Sept. l2, 192.8

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Phillip Willia mdersnn Patented July 23, 1929.

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PHII'iLIP WILLIAM SANFRSON, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TI-IE MILLERRUBBER COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, Av CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING- TIRE TUBES.

Application led September 12, 1928.

My said invention concerns an improved apparatus for making rubbertubes, and particularly tubes such as are used within the outer casingsof pneumatic tires.

The invention aims to provide an apparatus which will be simple,economical, and easily operated and which will dispense with thenecessity of the forming cores or mandrels customarily used.

rIhe invention includes the novel appay ratus hereinafter described andparticularly defined by the appended claims.

My novel apparatus is illustrated. in the accompanying drawings inwhich:

Figure l is a perspective view thereof.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. l showing the tubeforming sheet in place preparatory to forming the tube, the supportingtable being omitted for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with one side wing swung over and themargin protector removed.

Fig. 4f is a similar section illustrating the completion of the foldingoperation.

Referring by reference characters to these drawings, the apparatuscomprises a flat tube blank supporting device of platform shapecomprising a central section or member 1 and side sections 2 and 3pivotally connected to the intermediate sections by hinges at the endsas indicated at 2a and 3a. This platform is, when unfolded, slightlylonger and preferably slightly wider than the rubber blank from whichthe tube is to be made, and the central member is provided with a valvestem receiving aperture 1n.

The forming device above described may be conveniently supported upon atable indicated at 4 with one edge adjacent a guard or protector 5 whichfor convenience is made in the forni of an angle bar pivotally connectedto the table by hinges 5a so that ythe laterally turned edge may beswung back away from the adjacent edge of board or member 3 as shown inFigs. l and 3 or into overlapping relation thereto as shown in Fig. 2.

In using the described apparatus a sheet A of uncured calendered rubberof tube forming size is laid upon the opened out supporting member inthe position shown in Fig. 2 with its right hand edge alined with theright hand edge of board 3 and the angle member or vguard 5 is thenswung over so that its flange 5b overlaps and rests upon the rubbersheet,

Serial No. 305,559.

serving to protect the margin from the nonadhesive coating hereinafterdescribed and also to clamp the strip in place. The operator then takesa valve pad 7 with its attached stem 8 and pushes the valve stem throughthe rubben sheet and into the opening in board or member l (as shown inFig. 2), and presses the pad down until it adhesively contacts with andjoins the surface of the sheet A. Then by suitable means, such as abrush B, the operator applies a liquid, to the upper surface of thesheet, of such nature that it will prevent adhesion. Obviously, insteadof liquid, powder might be sprinkled on by any suitable means, such as adust bag, such liquids and powders being well known to those skilled inthe art.

The overlapping fiange 5b of the angle iron or member 5 serves, however,as a protector and prevents any liquid or dust from coming in contactwith the underlying surface of the rubber sheet and therefore preservesits tacky condition.

Having thus prepared the surface'of 'the sheet or blank, the operator,as the next step of the process, grasps the board or member 2 and swingsit from the position shown in Fig. l to that illustrated in Fig. 3,whereby the margin or portion of the sheet overlying board 2 is foldedover upon the left hand portion of the sheet supported by theintermediate board 1. Board or member 2 is then swung back into theposition shown in Fig. 4, the guard member 5 is swung back free from theedge of the sheet (Fig. 3), and the right hand board or member 3 isswung over into the position shown in Fig. 4, causing the sheet portioncarried thereby to be folded over the right hand portion of the sheet onboard l and the tacky margin to be superimposed on the margin of thepreviously folded over portion of said sheet, the tacky condition of theprotected margin causing it to adhere to the margin of the otherportion, which, due to its inverted position, is likewise tacky. Thisadhesion may be increased or made more effective by the operatorpressing the margins together conveniently by means of a hand roller.

The folded slab is now in the form of ai tube of the proper size andlength and the operator may now proceed to splice the ends of the tubetogether in any desired' manner to form an endless unvulcanized tubesuitable for use in tire casings. i

A moderate amount of air may be introduced into the tube through thevalve stem to facilitate handling after which, the tube may be placed ina. mold and vulcanized under requisite internal pressure in thecustomary manner.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

l. Apparatus for forming tubes of plastic` tothe free margin of one oftheside sections.

2. Apparatus according to claim l in which the protector is in the shapeof an angle bar mounted on swinging arms fulcrumecl on iixed pivots andhas one flange adapted to overlie the free edge of one of the sectionsand contact with the sheetsupported thereby.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the intermediate member has ahole `for the insertion of the stem of a Valve pad.

In testimony whereof I affix my signal me lHlLLll VILLI S A N DE R S( )N

